Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act of 2025

This bill speeds up conservation work in the Chesapeake Bay by helping farmers and landowners pay for and install proven practices that cut runoff, protect streams, and make farms more resilient. It creates a new multi-state partnership program to target funds where they reduce the most nitrogen and sediment, coordinate with EPA and states, use existing plans and tools, and protect producer privacy while improving how results are measured and reported . It also reauthorizes and expands conservation reserve programs to support more streamside forest buffers, lets states update existing agreements to add newer incentives without full renegotiation, and guarantees a minimum incentive payment equal to at least 40% of actual costs for updated contracts. The bill encourages grazing systems that work with stream buffers to address water and soil issues .

A new “turnkey” pilot makes buffers even easier: USDA can hire certified third parties to install and manage forested stream buffers on eligible land at no cost to the landowner and with no extra paperwork; landowners simply provide access. The pilot can cover related needs like stream crossings, fencing and alternate water systems, and necessary herbicide. USDA pays the providers and must report back to Congress within one year . To deliver faster service, USDA’s conservation agency (NRCS) can directly hire qualified staff. The bill also grows the agriculture workforce by expanding grants and fellowships to include paid work-based learning and authorizing $60 million per year from 2026–2031 for teaching improvements. Finally, inspection of wild, invasive blue and flathead catfish caught in U.S. waters moves from USDA to FDA to avoid duplicate inspections, with an agency agreement due in 90 days and final rules in 180 days .

• Who is affected

  • Farmers, ranchers, and landowners in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, plus state and local conservation partners .
  • Colleges, students, and trainees in food and agriculture programs; USDA conservation staff (NRCS) .
  • People who catch and sell wild, invasive blue and flathead catfish in the Bay region.

• What changes

  • Targeted funding and coordination to reduce farm runoff; improved tracking of nutrient reductions; protection of producer privacy .
  • Easier, updated conservation reserve agreements and a minimum 40% cost-share incentive for certain updated contracts; more land eligible for streamside buffers.
  • A no-cost, no-paperwork “turnkey” buffer program using certified third parties, paid by USDA .
  • Faster hiring at NRCS; more paid, work-based learning in ag education with added funding .
  • Catfish inspection shifts to FDA to eliminate duplication.

• When

  • Conservation Reserve Program authority extended through fiscal year 2028.
  • Education funding authorized for fiscal years 2026–2031.
  • Catfish oversight: agency agreement within 90 days; final rules within 180 days.
  • Turnkey buffer pilot: USDA report due within 1 year of enactment.